Travel

Travel Insider: DJ Alex Merrell

Travel

Travel Insider: DJ Alex Merrell

When Cartier, Mercedes-Benz or W Hotels (among others) need to set the right vibe at a glam occasion, they call DJ Alex Merrell. Playing these gigs has taken the New York-based Vancouver native to places like St. Barts and Morocco – and since she travels over 200,000 kilometres a year, she’s more likely to run into friends abroad. “My biggest frustration has been missing people by not knowing they were in town!” she says. That’s why she’s launching TREC this spring, an iPhone app for frequent travellers that syncs friends’ travel calendars by city. Not on the itinerary? “I avoid clubs! I prefer little jazz bars.”

BLACK BOOK: NEW YORK

Jet-lag lifesaver “The best way to decompress after travelling is the Roman-style baths at Aire in Tribeca. They save my mangled body!”

Night out “The best cocktail in NYC is the bourbon-and-rum-based Start Me Up at the NoMad Hotel.”

Favourite resto to take out-of-towners to “La Esquina has great Mexican food. It’s underground, so it has a speakeasy vibe.”

Best place to see Mick Jagger “I had a gig in Deauville, France, last year, and he showed up and danced until 2 a.m.”

Top airports “The Cathay Pacific lounge in Hong Kong is incredible, Heathrow has the best shopping and I love Vancouver because there’s a big piece of my father’s [Todd Merrell] art in the arrivals area.”

Best scene “The Hôtel Costes in Paris sets the bar for sexy. You can always find interesting strangers to have a conversation with.”

DJ Alex Merrell's travel must-haves

Travel must-have: On-the-go fragrance

"Jo Malone travel size Pomegranate Noir Cologne is in my purse at all times and will get past the strictest of liquids rules (Heathrow)." Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir cologne ($60), at jomalone.com. READ MORE: How to travel like a beauty guru

DJ Alex Merrell's travel must-haves

Travel must-have: Dry shampoo

"Klorane dry shampoo is a lifesaver for an early flight after a late night." Kloreane Oil-Supressing dry shampoo ($18) at salons and mass-market retailers. READ MORE: 7 things you need to sleep on a plane